STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville today announced plans for a commercial development along University Boulevard. The initial phase of the project will include the construction of a new hotel and the potential for two restaurants. Future phases may include a meeting center, retail space, and office space.

Franciscan University President Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, said that positive reports from the land assessment conducted in early March mean the University can move forward with phase one.

“For the past three years, Franciscan University has been actively investigating options for developing our property along University Boulevard. Now that the pre-construction site analysis is completed, we can finalize our plans for the hotel and potential restaurants. We expect to break ground as early as this summer,” Father Sheridan said.

The University announced that the new hotel will remain a Best Western Plus University Inn and will include 114 guest rooms and a swimming pool. The restaurants will also be identified after negotiations are complete.

See a plan view of the development and an artist’s rendering of the new hotel and restaurants.

The groundbreaking on this new project will be Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. opposite Sandella’s and Heavenly Grounds. Parking is available in the lot below.

The new commercial development will stimulate local economic growth, promote a more positive first impression of Steubenville and the University, and allow Franciscan to continue to offer hospitality to area visitors, including the thousands of guests who come to the University for admissions visits, commencement exercises, and youth and adult conferences. It will also help alleviate overcrowding in the University’s 11 student residence halls.

“Once the new hotel opens, the old Best Western University Inn will likely be repurposed into student housing to address the existing need for more residence hall space and to allow for future enrollment growth,” Father Sheridan explained.

According to Father Sheridan, the residence hall population has grown by 400 students since 2005, and the University now has over 1,500 students living on campus—70 students over the optimal capacity. Renovating the Best Western could provide housing for 180 students.

The University Boulevard project will be developed through Good Venture Properties, LLC, an affiliate of Franciscan University, and will be financed through revenue generated from the hotel and leases for the restaurants and retail spaces.

“Mayor Domenick Mucci, City Manager Tim Boland, and Jefferson County Port Authority Executive Director Evan Scurti have all expressed support of this endeavor and see it as a value for our local community. Franciscan University is grateful for their help and happy to partner with them on the city’s largest commercial development undertaken in many decades,” Father Sheridan said.

The new mixed-use commercial development will be another positive sign of local economic growth and activity, Father Sheridan said, noting that the project supports other efforts to transform the area such as those led by the Steubenville Downtown Revitalization Group and Steubenville Hilltop Community Corporation.

“We know that success attracts success, and Franciscan University hopes our commercial development will inspire other developers and businesses to choose Steubenville,” Father Sheridan said. “This activity can create a welcome ripple effect for the entire local economy.”